Appreciated by most, the mascot, a small illustration first worn by professional drivers, has gradually made its way throughout the microcosm of motor sports. What is it for ? Amaël Lemaître, who has long provided us with drawings to sum up with humor each Grand Prix, answers you…
An attraction also shared by amateur and semi-pro pilots who, unlike enthusiasts simply wanting to have a little fun, sometimes miss out on thereal interest of a mascot seeing it only as a decorative object. Is this your case? But then, what use does it serve you?
Assert your style
First of all, the mascot has a symbolic value: Even more than a company logo, it allows you to associate a name to one image and therefore to generate an impression. It invites the viewer to interpret this illustration imagined around your personality and allows them to construct a positive appreciation from you.
What does that mean ? Quite simply, you are going to lay the foundations of your brand image. The mascot is an element that makes you recognizable and identifiable, it is what will help you stand out from the crowd by allowing you to assert your style and giving birth to your character.
Unite around you
Then, when we understand this symbolic dimension, it becomes obvious that this mascot should not only remain discreetly affixed to the back of your helmet. It must be displayed everywhere, it is what sums you up and becomes the symbol of your adventure, allowing you to expand your notoriety.
It's yours distinctive sign, like the number 46 which is enough to evoke Valentino Rossi. The mistake made by many pilots is to follow this model by highlighting their personal number (behind their name on their FB page, with #numbers and others), forgetting that they do not have the visibility enjoyed by a MotoGP rider and that on their scale, the association of idea between their name and their number (used by many others), will work significantly worse than a clear and singular visual symbol like a mascot can be.
Disseminating and widely exploiting this image will therefore contribute to creating a sense of belonging with spectators: imagine going to an ice hockey match for the first time and knowing nothing about it. You will then look for a way to take part of for one of the two teams: action of a player, color of the jerseys, name of the team, logo... anything that will help you identify with a protagonist and that will allow you to "live" and take pleasure in follow the action.
In motor sports, the mascot helps generate this impression of proximity with the spectator: as long as he has noticed your logo on the internet or on the back of your truck in a paddock, it is very likely that he will be interested in you when you are on the track or when he hears speaking of you.
Generate funds
Finally, a mascot is also a potential means of finding finances. We were previously talking aboutbrand image and sense of belonging, two things that will push spectators to be interested in your sporting journey: they then become your supporters, and supporters like to show their support!
Therefore, like the big brands, you can put forward your logo on various goodies and offer them for sale: t-shirts, sweets, key rings, stickers, posters, there are many ways to display your graphic identity, and the most interesting thing is that people buying your products will participate in broadcast even more widely your image by wearing it on them!
For those who do not want to risk losing money or who do not have the time to manage order processing, there are many platforms allowing you to create your Online Store without having to take care of anything: Redbubble, for example, allows you to use your images on clothing, bags, phone cases and others. Generally count between 1 and 5 € profit per sale (yes, making others work has its place at a cost!)
Last point, a mascot is also an asset to the companies you approach for sponsorship. Obviously, a boss will be more easily tempted to entrust his image to a pilot who masters his own!
Certainly, a mascot will not make you drive faster. But it is a fantastic tool for selling yourself, in an environment where financial imperatives require visibility to exist. Hence the importance of choosing your service provider carefully and working with professionals who have mastered this graphic exercise and understand the issues behind it!
